دعِ اللَّومَ إن اللَّومَ عونُ النوائِبِ

دعِ اللَّومَ إن اللَّومَ عونُ النوائِبِ

ولا تتجاوز فيه حدَّ المُعاتِبِ

ولا تتجاوز فيه حدَّ المُعاتِبِ

Leave off blame: blame is an ally of calamities.

Blame me not, for blame does not ease calamity,

Cease your blame, for blame aids misfortunes,

And do not exceed a reprover's bounds in it.

Nor transgress in it the bounds of gentle reproof;

And do not cross the bounds of mere admonition.

فما كلُّ من حطَّ الرحالَ بمخفِقٍ

فما كلُّ من حطَّ الرحالَ بمخفِقٍ

ولا كلُّ من شدَّ الرحال بكاسبِ

ولا كلُّ من شدَّ الرحال بكاسبِ

Not everyone who sets down his saddlebags has failed,

Not all who halt have stumbled headlong,

For not everyone who lays down his saddle is a failure,

Nor does everyone who straps them on make a gain.

Nor has every horseman gained spoils.

Nor is every traveler who cinches his pack a gainer.

وفي السعي كَيْسٌ والنفوسُ نفائسٌ

وفي السعي كَيْسٌ والنفوسُ نفائسٌ

وليس بكَيْسٍ بيعُها بالرغائبِ

وليس بكَيْسٍ بيعُها بالرغائبِ

There is prudence in striving, but souls are precious,

In endeavor lies success, and souls are precious;

There is profit in striving, yet souls are precious gems,

And selling them for coveted rewards is not prudent.

Yet not all gain who barter them for vain desires.

And it is no wisdom to trade them away for desires.

وما زال مأمولُ البقاء مُفضّلاً

وما زال مأمولُ البقاء مُفضّلاً

على المُلك والأرباحِ دون الحرائبِ

على المُلك والأرباحِ دون الحرائبِ

The hope of survival has always been preferred

Safety has still been ranked above wealth and profit,

The hope of survival has always been preferred

To kingship and profits, let alone losses.

More than rule, for all its envied glory.

Above kingdoms and profits gained through peril.

حضضتَ على حطبي لناري فلا تدعْ

حضضتَ على حطبي لناري فلا تدعْ

لك الخيرُ تحذيري شرورَ المَحاطبِ

لك الخيرُ تحذيري شرورَ المَحاطبِ

You urged me to gather wood for my fire; do not neglect,

You have spurred me on although my strength gave out;

You urged me to gather fuel for my own fire, so do not neglect

May good be yours, warning me of dangerous gathering grounds.

Let well-wishing suffice you, and forego reproach.

—May good betide you—to warn me of the dangers in the wood.

وأنكرتَ إشفاقي وليس بمانعي

وأنكرتَ إشفاقي وليس بمانعي

طِلابي أن أبغي طلابَ المكاسبِ

طِلابي أن أبغي طلابَ المكاسبِ

You censured my apprehension, though it does not bar me

Denounce me not, when you my succor are

You denounced my caution, yet it does not bar me

From my quest to pursue the search for gains.

In the adversity of fate.

From seeking the path of gain as I pursue my goals.

ومن يلقَ ما لاقيتُ في كل مجتنىً

ومن يلقَ ما لاقيتُ في كل مجتنىً

من الشوك يزهدْ في الثمار الأَطايبِ

من الشوك يزهدْ في الثمار الأَطايبِ

Whoever encounters what I encountered in every gathering place

Kind counsel is better than harsh rebuke

Whoever encounters what I have faced in every harvest

Of thorns will lose his taste for the choicest fruits.

In gentle words from one who gives good advice.

Of thorns, will lose all taste for the sweetest fruits.

أذاقتنيَ الأسفارُ ما كَرَّه الغِنَى

أذاقتنيَ الأسفارُ ما كَرَّه الغِنَى

إليَّ وأغراني برفض المطالبِ

إليَّ وأغراني برفض المطالبِ

Journeys made me taste what rendered wealth hateful

Truthful counsel still brings help to resolves;

Travels have made me taste that which made wealth hateful

To me, and tempted me to abandon my pursuits.

No benefit in counsel that excoriates.

To me, and tempted me to renounce all ambitions.

فأصبحتُ في الإثراء أزهدَ زاهدٍ

فأصبحتُ في الإثراء أزهدَ زاهدٍ

وإن كنت في الإثراء أرغبَ راغبِ

وإن كنت في الإثراء أرغبَ راغبِ

I became the most reluctant of men to seek riches,

One such as I needs generosity,

So I have become the most ascetic of men regarding riches,

Though I had been the most eager to acquire them.

Gentle of nature, calming to one troubled.

Even though, in truth, I am the most desirous of wealth.

حريصاً جباناً أشتهي ثم أنتهي

حريصاً جباناً أشتهي ثم أنتهي

بلَحْظي جناب الرزق لحظَ المراقبِ

بلَحْظي جناب الرزق لحظَ المراقبِ

Greedy yet cowardly, I desire, then desist,

His touch is soft to one threadbare;

Covetous yet cowardly; I desire, then I desist,

Eyeing the precincts of livelihood like a watchful observer.

He meets each wish at the asking.

Eyeing the abode of provision with the glance of a watchman.

ومن راح ذا حرص وجبن فإنه

ومن راح ذا حرص وجبن فإنه

فقير أتاه الفقر من كل جانبِ

فقير أتاه الفقر من كل جانبِ

Whoever goes about possessed of greed and cowardice

For him the seeker attains the sought,

And whoever sets out possessing both greed and cowardice

Is a pauper whom poverty approaches from every side.

Petitioner, petitioner, speaker, spoken to.

Is a pauper to whom poverty comes from every side.

ولما دعاني للمثوبة سيّدٌ

ولما دعاني للمثوبة سيّدٌ

يرى المدح عاراً قبل بَذْل المثَاوبِ

يرى المدح عاراً قبل بَذْل المثَاوبِ

When a lord invited me to receive a reward,

How excellent in character is one high minded,

When a master invited me to receive a reward,

One who considers praise shameful before rewards are given,

His gifts contend with clouds' prolific showers!

One who deems praise a disgrace unless accompanied by gifts,

تنازعني رغْبٌ ورهب كلاهما

تنازعني رغْبٌ ورهب كلاهما

قويٌّ وأعياني اطِّلاعُ المغايبِ

قويٌّ وأعياني اطِّلاعُ المغايبِ

Desire and dread contended within me, both

Like life-giving rains he comes to all who seek;

Fear and desire wrestled within me, both of them

Powerful, and discovering the unseen defeated me.

I flee him like a coward, a scheme not meet.

Strong, and the knowledge of the unseen exhausted me.

فقدمتُ رجلاً رغبةً في رغيبةٍ

فقدمتُ رجلاً رغبةً في رغيبةٍ

وأخّرتُ رجلاً رهبةً للمعاطبِ

وأخّرتُ رجلاً رهبةً للمعاطبِ

I put one foot forward, longing for a coveted prize,

I'm torn between desire and fear of him,

So I advanced one foot in desire for the prize,

And drew one foot back, fearing destruction.

While fate's dominions are obscure to me.

And held back the other in fear of destruction.

أخافُ على نفسي وأرجو مَفازَها

أخافُ على نفسي وأرجو مَفازَها

وأستارُ غَيْب اللّهِ دونَ العواقبِ

وأستارُ غَيْب اللّهِ دونَ العواقبِ

I fear for my life and hope for its deliverance,

I hope yet fear for my wretched soul,

I fear for my soul, yet I hope for its triumph,

But the veils of God's unseen conceal the outcomes.

As God's unseen decrees shape destiny.

While the veils of God’s mystery cover the outcomes.

ألا من يريني غايتي قبل مذهبي

ألا من يريني غايتي قبل مذهبي

ومن أين والغاياتُ بعد المذاهبِ

ومن أين والغاياتُ بعد المذاهبِ

Who can show me my destination before I set out?

Would that one showed my fate before my course,

Oh, who will show me my end before I depart?

How could that be, when destinations follow departures?

For endings come not first, nor consequences causes.

But how can that be, when ends lie beyond the paths?

ومِنْ نكبةٍ لاقيتُها بعد نكبةٍ

ومِنْ نكبةٍ لاقيتُها بعد نكبةٍ

رَهِبتُ اعتساف الأرضِ ذاتِ المناكبِ

رَهِبتُ اعتساف الأرضِ ذاتِ المناكبِ

Through calamity encountered after calamity,

Calamity followed calamity until

From one calamity I encountered after another,

I grew afraid of blindly traversing earth's broad expanses.

I feared the ground itself might split asunder.

I have come to dread traversing the earth and its shoulders.

وصبري على الإقتار أيسرُ مَحْملاً

وصبري على الإقتار أيسرُ مَحْملاً

عليَّ مِنَ التغرير بعد التجاربِ

عليَّ مِنَ التغرير بعد التجاربِ

Bearing poverty is a lighter burden

Bearing destitution proves an easier burden

My patience with poverty is easier for me to bear

For me than taking risks after such experiences.

Than risking lives to further feed ambition.

Than exposing myself to danger after all my experiences.

لقِيتُ من البَرِّ التّباريحَ بعدما

لقِيتُ من البَرِّ التّباريحَ بعدما

لقيتُ من البحر ابيضاضَ الذوائبِ

لقيتُ من البحر ابيضاضَ الذوائبِ

I encountered agonies on land after

On land I suffered horrors then at sea

I encountered miseries from the land after

Encountering at sea what whitened my forelocks.

Assailed by waves from every corner rising.

I had encountered the whitening of my temples from the sea.

سُقيتُ على ريٍّ به ألفَ مَطْرةٍ

سُقيتُ على ريٍّ به ألفَ مَطْرةٍ

شُغفتُ لبغضِيها بحبّ المجَادِبِ

شُغفتُ لبغضِيها بحبّ المجَادِبِ

Already sated, I was drenched there with a thousand showers;

I've drunk a flooding deluge, loathed it, loved

I was watered to satisfaction by a thousand rains,

My hatred of them made me enamored of barren places.

Soft pleasant rains - so great had hardship grown.

Becoming fond of droughts because of my hatred for them.

ولم أُسْقَها بل ساقَها لمكيدتي

ولم أُسْقَها بل ساقَها لمكيدتي

تَحامُق دهرٍ جَدَّ بي كالمُلاعبِ

تَحامُق دهرٍ جَدَّ بي كالمُلاعبِ

They were not given me to drink; rather, they were driven against me

Not I called rains but destiny conspired,

I was not watered by them, but rather the foolishness of time

By the foolish antics of an age that played with me in deadly earnest.

To mock and ruin me, a foolish lad.

drove them to plot against me, playing a serious game.

إلى اللَّه أشكو سخفَ دهري فإنه

إلى اللَّه أشكو سخفَ دهري فإنه

يُعابثني مذ كنت غيرَ مُطائبِ

يُعابثني مذ كنت غيرَ مُطائبِ

To God I complain of my age's folly, for it

To God I cried against time's foolishness,

To God I complain of the absurdity of my fate, for it

Has toyed with me since I existed, without friendly jest.

Tormenting me since I was but a child.

Has toyed with me since I existed, never in jest.

أبَى أن يُغيثَ الأرضَ حتى إذا ارتمتْ

أبَى أن يُغيثَ الأرضَ حتى إذا ارتمتْ

برحلي أتاها بالغُيوثِ السواكبِ

برحلي أتاها بالغُيوثِ السواكبِ

It refused to water the earth until, when it received

Refused to hydrate dust before my strides

It refused to aid the earth until, when the rain clouds

My baggage, it brought pouring rains upon it.

Brought me there, then visiting in kind excess.

Targeted my saddle, it brought forth pouring torrents.

سقى الأرضَ من أجلي فأضحتْ مَزِلَّةً

سقى الأرضَ من أجلي فأضحتْ مَزِلَّةً

تَمايَلُ صاحيها تمايُلَ شاربِ

تَمايَلُ صاحيها تمايُلَ شاربِ

It watered the earth on my account, leaving it slippery,

Drenched the land on my account, till itliquefied,

It watered the earth for my sake, so it became a slip-slide,

Its sober traveler swaying like a drinker.

Camels swaying whether riders prayed or no.

Where the sober man sways like a drunkard,

لتعويقِ سيري أو دحوضِ مَطيَّتي

لتعويقِ سيري أو دحوضِ مَطيَّتي

وإخصابِ مُزوَّرٍ عن المجد ناكبِ

وإخصابِ مُزوَّرٍ عن المجد ناكبِ

To obstruct my journey or make my mount slip,

Impeding progress, floundering every mount,

To hinder my journey or cause my mount to fall,

And enrich a man averse to glory, turning aside from it.

Pretending care, from glory turning back.

Creating a false fertility that deviates from glory.

فملتُ إلى خانٍ مُرثٍّ بناؤُه

فملتُ إلى خانٍ مُرثٍّ بناؤُه

مميلَ غريقِ الثوب لهفانَ لاغِبِ

مميلَ غريقِ الثوب لهفانَ لاغِبِ

I turned toward an inn whose structure was dilapidated,

Thus I came upon a ruin for a lodge,

So I turned aside to a ruined caravanserai,

As one turns with drenched clothing, anguished and exhausted.

Reeling like the drunk, no rest within or out.

Swaying like a man drowning in his clothes, eager and weary.

فلم ألقَ فيه مُستراحاً لمُتعَبٍ

فلم ألقَ فيه مُستراحاً لمُتعَبٍ

ولا نُزُلاً أيانَ ذاك لساغِبِ

ولا نُزُلاً أيانَ ذاك لساغِبِ

I found there no resting place for a weary man,

No repose here for the tired, no lodging,

I found therein no resting place for a tired man,

Nor any hospitality then for a hungry one.

Sleepless nights and darkness without end.

Nor a lodging—when was there ever one?—for the hungry.

فما زلتُ في خوفٍ وجوعٍ ووحشةٍ

فما زلتُ في خوفٍ وجوعٍ ووحشةٍ

وفي سَهَرٍ يستغرقُ الليلَ واصبِ

وفي سَهَرٍ يستغرقُ الليلَ واصبِ

I remained in fear, hunger, and loneliness,

A roof so much like ravenous birds overhead,

I remained in fear, hunger, and desolation,

And in unrelenting sleeplessness that consumed the night.

Creaking, bowing under moisture's heavy weight.

And in wakefulness that consumed the lasting night.

يؤرِّقني سَقْفٌ كأّنيَ تحته

يؤرِّقني سَقْفٌ كأّنيَ تحته

من الوكفِ تحت المُدْجِنات الهواضبِ

من الوكفِ تحت المُدْجِنات الهواضبِ

A roof kept me awake, as though beneath it,

Many lodgings fell just so, with travelers in them,

A roof keeps me awake, as though I were beneath it

From its dripping, I were under dark, pouring clouds.

Like a hawk swooping down upon its prey.

Suffering the drip under cloudy, pouring skies.

تراهُ إذا ما الطينُ أثقلَ متنَهُ

تراهُ إذا ما الطينُ أثقلَ متنَهُ

تَصِرُّ نواحيه صريرَ الجنادبِ

تَصِرُّ نواحيه صريرَ الجنادبِ

You see it, whenever mud weighs down its back,

Nor will I forget the woes of summer days,

You see it, when the mud weighs heavy upon its back,

Its sides creaking with the chirping of grasshoppers.

With crackling clay and winds of flame about.

Its corners creaking with the sound of crickets.

وكم خَانِ سَفْرٍ خَانَ فانقضَّ فوقهم

وكم خَانِ سَفْرٍ خَانَ فانقضَّ فوقهم

كما انقضَّ صقرُ الدجنِ فوق الأرانبِ

كما انقضَّ صقرُ الدجنِ فوق الأرانبِ

How many a travelers' inn betrayed them, collapsing upon them,

How often fire we kindled in the waste -

How many a travelers' inn has betrayed them, collapsing upon them

As a hawk of the gloom swoops upon rabbits!

Its sparks did reach us, searing brow and veil.

Just as a falcon of the clouds dives upon rabbits.

ولم أنسَ ما لاقيتُ أيامَ صحوِهِ

ولم أنسَ ما لاقيتُ أيامَ صحوِهِ

من الصّرِّ فيه والثلوج الأشاهبِ

من الصّرِّ فيه والثلوج الأشاهبِ

Nor have I forgotten what I suffered in its clear weather

When the desert glowed white hot, swelling, seething

I have not forgotten what I faced in the days of clear skies,

From bitter cold and pale snows.

In a flood whipped up from dusty worn remains.

From the bitter cold within it and the gray snows.

وما زال ضاحِي البَرِّ يضربُ أهلَهُ

وما زال ضاحِي البَرِّ يضربُ أهلَهُ

بسوطَيْ عذابٍ جامدٍ بعد ذائبِ

بسوطَيْ عذابٍ جامدٍ بعد ذائبِ

The open country has always scourged its dwellers

Once it dried, the winds blasting, it allowed

The exposed land never ceased striking its people

With two lashes of torment, frozen after liquid.

No drink, withheld its water, bonds restraining.

With two whips of torment: one frozen, one fluid.

فإن فاته قَطْرٌ وثلج فإنه

فإن فاته قَطْرٌ وثلج فإنه

رَهين بسافٍ تارةً أو بحاصبِ

رَهين بسافٍ تارةً أو بحاصبِ

If rain and snow miss it, it is

Now and then a flood to drown me, without rains,

If it missed rain and snow, then it was

Condemned now to drifting sand, now to a stone-pelting wind.

At times a drought - no mercy for these pains!

Hostage to a violent sandstorm or a hail of stones.

فذاك بلاءُ البرِّ عنديَ شاتياً

فذاك بلاءُ البرِّ عنديَ شاتياً

وكم ليَ من صيفٍ به ذي مثالبِ

وكم ليَ من صيفٍ به ذي مثالبِ

Such is the land's affliction for me in winter;

Still the land persisted, raining blows by tempest,

That is the tribulation of the land for me in winter,

How many summers there have brought me troubles!

Or by frozen mass, binding fast its people.

And how many summers have I spent in it with flaws?

ألا رُبَّ نارٍ بالفضاء اصطليتُها

ألا رُبَّ نارٍ بالفضاء اصطليتُها

منَ الشَّمسِ يودي لَفْحُهَا بالحواجبِ

منَ الشَّمسِ يودي لَفْحُهَا بالحواجبِ

How often in the open I endured a fire

If from them some moisture slipped, or snowflakes flew,

Oh, many a fire in the open space have I endured,

From the sun, whose scorching blast destroys eyebrows!

In cutting blasts or sweltering heat they perished.

From the sun, whose scorching heat destroys the eyebrows.

إذا ظلتِ البيداءُ تطفو إِكامُها

إذا ظلتِ البيداءُ تطفو إِكامُها

وترسُبُ في غَمْرٍ من الآلِ ناضبِ

وترسُبُ في غَمْرٍ من الآلِ ناضبِ

When the desert's hills keep floating

So winters plagued me by experience there -

When the desert hills appear to float,

And sinking in a flood of vanishing mirage.

How many summers boded ill besides!

And sink into a flood of mirages that have dried up.

فدعْ عنك ذكرَ البَرِّ إني رأيتُهُ

فدعْ عنك ذكرَ البَرِّ إني رأيتُهُ

لمن خاف هولَ البحر شَرَّ المَهاربِ

لمن خاف هولَ البحر شَرَّ المَهاربِ

Leave aside talk of land: I have found it

Ah how often scorching winds upon the land

So leave off mentioning the land, for I have seen it

The worst refuge for one who fears the sea's terror.

Sear bodies to the bone, leaving no voice to cry.

As the worst of escapes for one who fears the terror of the sea.

كِلا نُزُلَيْهِ صيفُهُ وشتاؤُهُ

كِلا نُزُلَيْهِ صيفُهُ وشتاؤُهُ

خلافٌ لما أهواهُ غيرُ مُصاقبِ

خلافٌ لما أهواهُ غيرُ مُصاقبِ

Both its kinds of hospitality, its summer and winter,

Spare me descriptions of the wintry north,

Both of its lodgings—its summer and its winter—

Oppose what I desire, nowhere near it:

For one who dreads the sea it is the worst of fates.

Are contrary to what I desire, never aligning.

لُهاثٌ مُميتٌ تحت بيضاءَ سُخْنَةٍ

لُهاثٌ مُميتٌ تحت بيضاءَ سُخْنَةٍ

وَرِيٌّ مُفيتٌ تحت أسْحَمَ صائبِ

وَرِيٌّ مُفيتٌ تحت أسْحَمَ صائبِ

Deadly panting beneath a hot white sun,

Both climes afflict, each season in its turn;

A deadly thirst under a hot white sun,

And fatal drenching beneath a pouring black cloud.

Not what one wishes, with no constancy.

And a fatal drenching under a pouring black cloud.

يجفُّ إذا ما أصبح الرّيقُ عاصباً

يجفُّ إذا ما أصبح الرّيقُ عاصباً

ويُغدقُ لي والرّيق ليس بعاصبِ

ويُغدقُ لي والرّيق ليس بعاصبِ

It dries up when saliva has become sticky,

Suffocating in the white heat, lethal swelter;

It dries up when my throat is constricted with thirst,

And pours abundantly for me when my saliva is not dry.

Killing frost descending with no guide in sight.

And floods for me when my throat is not constricted.

ويمنع منّي الماءَ واللَّوحُ جاهدٌ

ويمنع منّي الماءَ واللَّوحُ جاهدٌ

ويُغرِقني والريُّ رَطْبُ المحَالِب

ويُغرِقني والريُّ رَطْبُ المحَالِب

It withholds water from me while thirst torments,

It sears when winds blow hot, but then withholds

It denies me water when the heat is intense,

And drowns me while satiation's udders are still moist.

Its water, when the air blows cool and soft.

And drowns me when the irrigation channels are wet.

وما زال يَبغيني الحتوفَ مُوارِباً

وما زال يَبغيني الحتوفَ مُوارِباً

يحوم على قتلي وغيرَ مُواربِ

يحوم على قتلي وغيرَ مُواربِ

It has always sought deaths for me, deceitfully,

And turns to flood just when I fear its drought,

It continues to seek my death through deception,

Circling about my killing, and openly too.

Or parching death, if the clouds travel light.

Hovering around my killing without any guile.

فطوراً يُغاديني بلصٍّ مُصَلِّتٍ

فطوراً يُغاديني بلصٍّ مُصَلِّتٍ

وطوراً يُمَسّيني بورْدِ الشَّواربِ

وطوراً يُمَسّيني بورْدِ الشَّواربِ

Sometimes it greets my morning with a blade-brandishing thief,

Still seeking to destroy me, circling round,

At times it surprises me in the morning with a brandishing thief,

Sometimes my evening with tawny-whiskered beasts,

Bent on murder though no blood feud stood.

And at times it greets me in the evening with a watering of blades.

إلى أنْ وقاني اللَّه محذورَ شرّهِ

إلى أنْ وقاني اللَّه محذورَ شرّهِ

بعزتِهِ واللَّه أَغلب غالبِ

بعزتِهِ واللَّه أَغلب غالبِ

Until God protected me from its dreaded evil

Sometimes it shocked me with a morning raid,

Until God protected me from its feared evil

By His might; God is the mightiest of victors.

Or ambushed me when day slipped into night.

By His might, and God is the Victor of victors.

فأفلتُّ من ذُؤبانهِ وأُسودِهِ

فأفلتُّ من ذُؤبانهِ وأُسودِهِ

وحُرَّابِهِ إفلاتَ أَتوب تائبِ

وحُرَّابِهِ إفلاتَ أَتوب تائبِ

I escaped its wolves and lions

Until God saved me from its wickedness,

So I escaped from its wolves, its lions,

And its raiders, like the most repentant penitent escaping.

In His glory did He aid, defeat my foe.

And its bandits, with the escape of a repentant sinner.

وأما بلاءُ البحر عندي فإنه

وأما بلاءُ البحر عندي فإنه

طواني على رَوعٍ منَ الروح واقبِ

طواني على رَوعٍ منَ الروح واقبِ

As for the sea's affliction upon me,

Escaping its rapacious jaws, salvation

As for the tribulation of the sea, it has

It enfolded me in terror that penetrated my soul.

Came to this penitent and God-reliant soul.

Folded me upon a terror that pierces the soul.

ولو ثاب عقلي لم أدعْ ذكرَ بعضهِ

ولو ثاب عقلي لم أدعْ ذكرَ بعضهِ

ولكنه من هولِهِ غيرُ ثائبِ

ولكنه من هولِهِ غيرُ ثائبِ

Were my reason to return, I would not omit mentioning some of it,

But the sea's tribulation in my eyes

Had my reason returned, I would not leave out the mention of some of it,

But from its horror my reason has not returned.

Is a tumultuous chaos of the spirit.

But due to its terror, my reason does not return.

وَلِمْ لا ولو أُلقيتُ فيه وصخرةً

وَلِمْ لا ولو أُلقيتُ فيه وصخرةً

لوافيت منه القعرَ أوّلَ راسبِ

لوافيت منه القعرَ أوّلَ راسبِ

And why not? Were I thrown into it alongside a rock,

Had mind returned I would not have recalled

And why not? If I were thrown into it along with a rock,

I would reach its bottom first of all to sink.

Some of its horrors - so profound the dread.

I would reach the bottom before the first sinking stone.

ولم أتعلم قط من ذي سباحةٍ

ولم أتعلم قط من ذي سباحةٍ

سوى الغوص والمضعوف غيرُ مغالِب

سوى الغوص والمضعوف غيرُ مغالِب

I never learned from any swimmer

Why not? Cast in it, any boulder

I never learned from any swimmer

Anything but sinking; the overpowered cannot prevail.

Would plummet to the depths, no footing trace.

Anything but diving, and the weak cannot compete.

فأيسرُ إشفاقي من الماء أنني

فأيسرُ إشفاقي من الماء أنني

أمرُّ به في الكوز مرَّ المُجانبِ

أمرُّ به في الكوز مرَّ المُجانبِ

The slightest of my fears of water is that

I learned naught from swimmers but to plunge,

The least of my fear regarding water is that

I pass it in a jug as one avoiding it passes.

To flounder, helpless, mastered by the waves.

I pass by it in a cup with the caution of one avoiding it.

وأخشى الردى منه على كل شاربٍ

وأخشى الردى منه على كل شاربٍ

فكيف بأَمْنِيه على نفس راكبِ

فكيف بأَمْنِيه على نفس راكبِ

I fear death from it for every drinker;

More tender my compassion for the sea:

I fear death from it for every drinker,

How, then, could I trust it with a passenger's life?

Crossing in a cup I fear its minor raids.

So how could I be safe from it while riding upon it?

أظلُّ إذا هزتهُ ريحٌ ولألأتْ

أظلُّ إذا هزتهُ ريحٌ ولألأتْ

له الشمسُ أمواجاً طِوالَ الغواربِ

له الشمسُ أمواجاً طِوالَ الغواربِ

Whenever a wind shakes it and the sun makes

And for a ship passenger, how great the alarm

I remain, when a wind shakes it and the sun

Its tall-backed waves glitter, I remain

When gales whip waves to titanic heights!

Glitters upon waves with tall crests,

كأني أرى فيهنّ فُرسانَ بُهمةٍ

كأني أرى فيهنّ فُرسانَ بُهمةٍ

يُليحون نحوي بالسيوف القواضبِ

يُليحون نحوي بالسيوف القواضبِ

As though seeing in them horsemen of a fierce battle,

I see in them champions with purpose bent,

As if I see within them knights of darkness,

Waving their keen-cutting swords toward me.

Brandishing swords, surging toward me forth.

Brandishing sharp swords towards me.

فإن قُلْتَ لي قد يُركَبُ اليمُّ طامياً

فإن قُلْتَ لي قد يُركَبُ اليمُّ طامياً

ودجلةُ عند اليمِّ بعضُ المَذانبِ

ودجلةُ عند اليمِّ بعضُ المَذانبِ

If you tell me that the swelling sea is sailed,

You say it may be crossed, the sea's expanse,

If you say to me, 'The sea is ridden when swollen,

And beside the sea the Tigris is but a little channel,

Euphrates to the sea a slender thread.

And the Tigris compared to the sea is but a stream,'

فلا عذرَ فيها لامرىءٍ هابَ مثلَها

فلا عذرَ فيها لامرىءٍ هابَ مثلَها

وفي اللُّجَّةِ الخضراء عذرٌ لهائبِ

وفي اللُّجَّةِ الخضراء عذرٌ لهائبِ

So a man has no excuse for fearing such a river,

There is no excuse in that for a man who fears the like of it,

Though fear of the green deep has an excuse:

No excuse then for one who dreads its form,

But in the green abyss, there is an excuse for the fearful.

فإنّ احتجاجي عنك ليس بنائمٍ

فإنّ احتجاجي عنك ليس بنائمٍ

وإن بياني ليس عني بعازبِ

وإن بياني ليس عني بعازبِ

My argument against you is not asleep,

Though for the verdant swamp some pardoning.

For my argument against you is not sleeping,

Nor has my eloquence deserted me.

I say the Euphrates wears a guise of calm,

And my eloquence is not absent from me.

لدجلةَ خَبٌّ ليس لليمِّ إنها

لدجلةَ خَبٌّ ليس لليمِّ إنها

تُرائي بحلمٍ تحته جهلُ واثبِ

تُرائي بحلمٍ تحته جهلُ واثبِ

The Tigris has a guile the sea does not: it

Dogged by ignorant violence in its depths.

The Tigris has a deceit that the sea does not;

Makes a show of forbearance, beneath which leaps reckless fury.

It plays serene, till we are reassured,

It feigns a gentleness beneath which lies the ignorance of a pouncer.

تَطامَنُ حتى تطمئنَّ قلوبُنا

تَطامَنُ حتى تطمئنَّ قلوبُنا

وتغضبُ من مزحِ الرياح اللواعبِ

وتغضبُ من مزحِ الرياح اللواعبِ

It grows calm until our hearts are reassured,

Then rages at the winds' impertinence.

It lowers itself until our hearts are reassured,

Then grows angry at the playful winds' teasing.

But its depths conceal all kinds of treachery,

Then rages at the joking of the playful winds.

وأَجرافُها رهْنٌ بكلِّ خيانةٍ

وأَجرافُها رهْنٌ بكلِّ خيانةٍ

وغَدْرٍ ففيها كُلُّ عَيْبٍ لِعائبِ

وغَدْرٍ ففيها كُلُّ عَيْبٍ لِعائبِ

Its banks are pledged to every treachery

Each flaw and defect, failings beyond count.

Its banks are hostage to every treachery

And betrayal; it has every fault a critic could find.

When gales excite its waters to great frenzy,

And betrayal; in it lies every fault for the fault-finder.

ترانا إذا هاجتْ بها الرِّيحُ هَيْجةً

ترانا إذا هاجتْ بها الرِّيحُ هَيْجةً

نُزَلزَلُ في حَوماتها بالقواربِ

نُزَلزَلُ في حَوماتها بالقواربِ

You see us when the wind stirs it into tumult,

In its confounding vortexes boats are flung.

You see us, when the wind stirs up a storm in it,

Being shaken in our boats amid its currents.

Dizzying in its convulsions, we are hurled,

Being shaken in its whirlpools within the boats.

نُوائِلُ من زلزالها محو خسفها

نُوائِلُ من زلزالها محو خسفها

فلا خيرَ في أوساطها والجوانبِ

فلا خيرَ في أوساطها والجوانبِ

We flee its shaking for the obliteration of its collapsing banks;

Whelmed in its flood, no speck of land emerges.

We obtain from its shaking the erasure of its swallowing;

There is no good in its middle or its sides.

Waves heaving in a gloom of whale-like monsters,

So there is no good in its middle nor its sides.

زلازلُ موجٍ في غمارٍ زواخرٍ

زلازلُ موجٍ في غمارٍ زواخرٍ

وهدَّاتُ خَسْفٍ في شطوطٍ خواربِ

وهدَّاتُ خَسْفٍ في شطوطٍ خواربِ

Quaking waves amid surging depths,

Seismic shudders into yawning deeps.

Earthquakes of waves in deep, swelling waters,

And crashing collapses along crumbling shores.

While the Euphrates in its calm has reasons

And tremors of sinking on ruined shores.

ولليمِّ إعذارٌ بعرضِ متونِهِ

ولليمِّ إعذارٌ بعرضِ متونِهِ

وما فيه من آذيِّهِ المتراكبِ

وما فيه من آذيِّهِ المتراكبِ

The sea has an excuse in the breadth of its surface

For pardoning, with hazards piled atop.

But the sea has excuses in the breadth of its surface,

And the piling of its waves.

You'll never see it shake the land convulsive

And in the piling waves it contains.

ولستَ تراهُ في الرياحِ مزلزلاً

ولستَ تراهُ في الرياحِ مزلزلاً

بما فيه إِلّا في الشداد الغوالبِ

بما فيه إِلّا في الشداد الغوالبِ

You do not see it shaken by winds,

Beyond what mighty winds and powers compel.

You do not see it shaken by the winds

With all it contains, except by the fiercest overpowering ones.

If a fearsome wave rises, the shore provides

Despite its volume, except in the overwhelming storms.

وإنْ خيفَ موجٌ عيذ منه بساحلٍ

وإنْ خيفَ موجٌ عيذ منه بساحلٍ

خليٍّ من الأجرافِ ذات الكَباكبِ

خليٍّ من الأجرافِ ذات الكَباكبِ

If waves are feared, refuge is found on a shore

Shelter where flood and storm are meaningless.

And if waves are feared, refuge is sought in a coast

Free of banks with tumbling masses.

It disgorges what it swallowed, unlike seas

Free from cliffs possessing massive crowds.

ويلفظُ ما فيهِ فليس مُعاجلاً

ويلفظُ ما فيهِ فليس مُعاجلاً

غريقاً بغتٍّ يُزهقُ النفسَ كاربِ

غريقاً بغتٍّ يُزهقُ النفسَ كاربِ

It casts out what it contains and does not hasten

That suck ships down and instantly ensnare.

It casts out what is in it, not rushing

A drowning man's end with a distressing, life-extinguishing plunge.

It makes excuses for those nearly drowned

To stifle a drowning man with a breath-taking choke.

يعلِّلُ غرقاهُ إلى أن يُغيثَهم

يعلِّلُ غرقاهُ إلى أن يُغيثَهم

بصنعٍ لطيفٍ منه خيرِ مصاحَبِ

بصنعٍ لطيفٍ منه خيرِ مصاحَبِ

It sustains its drowning men until it comes to their aid

Till rescued by some gracious blessing sent.

It distracts its drowned victims until it rescues them

With a gentle act of its own, the best of companions.

Thus kindly waves restore to joyful throngs

With a gentle act; it is the best of companions.

فتُلفَى الدلافينُ الكريمُ طباعُها

فتُلفَى الدلافينُ الكريمُ طباعُها

هناك رِعالاً عند نَكبِ النواكبِ

هناك رِعالاً عند نَكبِ النواكبِ

Dolphins, noble in their nature, are found

Those stranded when calamity descends.

Thus dolphins, noble in their nature,

There in troops when calamities strike,

Ships wrecked are turned to planks, each signifying

Are found there in pods during the worst calamities,

مراكبَ للقومِ الذين كبا بهم

مراكبَ للقومِ الذين كبا بهم

فهم وَسْطه غرقى وهم في مراكبِ

فهم وَسْطه غرقى وهم في مراكبِ

As mounts for the people whom it has thrown down:

Some group or other plunged mid-voyage to doom.

Vehicles for the people whom the ships failed,

They are drowning in its midst, yet borne on mounts.

You've wearied me with fears of travel's dangers,

So they are drowning in the middle, yet they are on vessels.

وينقضُ ألواحَ السفينِ فكُلُّها

وينقضُ ألواحَ السفينِ فكُلُّها

مُنَجٍّ لدى نَوْبٍ من الكَسْر نائبِ

مُنَجٍّ لدى نَوْبٍ من الكَسْر نائبِ

It breaks apart the ships' planks, and each

Especially when waters rise like giants.

And if it shatters the planks of the ship, all of them

Is a rescuer when a calamity of wreckage strikes.

And monsters of the deep attack the land's

Become saviors during the crisis of a breaking vessel.

وما أنا بالراضي عن البحر مركباً

وما أنا بالراضي عن البحر مركباً

ولكنني عارضتُ شَغْبَ المشاغبِ

ولكنني عارضتُ شَغْبَ المشاغبِ

I am not content with the sea as a conveyance,

Fair regions - harm reaching even hermits' caves.

I am not satisfied with the sea as a mount,

But I have countered the quarrelsome man's objections.

As if true courage was to drown at sea,

But I have countered the argument of the arguer.

صدقْتُك عن نفسي وأنت مُراغمي

صدقْتُك عن نفسي وأنت مُراغمي

وموضعُ سري دون أدنى الأقاربِ

وموضعُ سري دون أدنى الأقاربِ

I have told you truthfully of myself, though you oppose me,

Or sink in rapids, lost without a trace!

I have been truthful with you about myself, though you oppose me,

And you hold my secrets before even my nearest relatives.

This your command, while my allotted burden

And you are the keeper of my secret, closer than nearest kin.

وجرَّبتُ حتى ما أرى الدهرَ مُغرِباً

وجرَّبتُ حتى ما أرى الدهرَ مُغرِباً

عليّ بشيءٍ لم يقعْ في تجاربي

عليّ بشيءٍ لم يقعْ في تجاربي

I have experienced so much that I no longer see time surprising

Is wisdom and advice for people's needs.

I have experienced life until I do not see Time bringing

Me with anything that has not figured in my experience.

Reassure and raise me! Make my payment bounty,

Anything strange to me that has not occurred in my trials.

أرى المرءَ مذ يلقى الترابَ بوجهِهِ

أرى المرءَ مذ يلقى الترابَ بوجهِهِ

إلى أن يُوارَى فيه رهن النوائبِ

إلى أن يُوارَى فيه رهن النوائبِ

I see man, from when his face first meets the dust

And tireless be in growing benefits.

I see that man, from the moment he meets the dust with his face

Until he is buried in it, hostage to calamities.

Let your munificence continue perfect,

Until he is buried in it, is a hostage to misfortunes.

ولو لم يُصَبْ إِلّا بشرخِ شبابِهِ

ولو لم يُصَبْ إِلّا بشرخِ شبابِهِ

لكان قد استوفى جميعَ المصائبِ

لكان قد استوفى جميعَ المصائبِ

Even if his sole loss were his youth's prime,

Flawless in its grace, envious reproach beyond.

Even if he were afflicted only by the passing of his youth,

He would have suffered every misfortune in full.

On me the horrors of the journey weigh,

He would have exhausted all calamities.

ومن صَدَق الأخيارَ داوَوْا سقامَهُ

ومن صَدَق الأخيارَ داوَوْا سقامَهُ

بصِحَّةِ آراءٍ ويُمْنِ نَقائبِ

بصِحَّةِ آراءٍ ويُمْنِ نَقائبِ

Whoever speaks truthfully to good men, they heal his sickness

Bleak winter, piercing winds and gloomy clouds.

Whoever is truthful with good men, they cure his sickness

With sound judgments and blessed insight.

Especially when the sea rose in its fury,

With sound opinions and blessed insights.

وما زال صدقُ المستشير معاوناً

وما زال صدقُ المستشير معاوناً

على الرأي لُبَّ المستشار المحازِبِ

على الرأي لُبَّ المستشار المحازِبِ

The seeker's honesty has always assisted

And the gales blustered, blew the sky to flame.

The honesty of the seeker of counsel continues to aid

The allied adviser's understanding in forming counsel.

Until a pall of dust engulfed the land,

The intellect of the partisan counselor in forming an opinion.

وأبعدُ أدواءِ الرجالِ ذوي الضّنى

وأبعدُ أدواءِ الرجالِ ذوي الضّنى

من البرء داءُ المستطِبِّ المكاذبِ

من البرء داءُ المستطِبِّ المكاذبِ

The ailment furthest from recovery among suffering men

Harming even hermits in their distant caves.

And the furthest of sick men from a cure

Is the ailment of the patient who lies.

As if praise only comes by drowning in the sea

Is the ailment of the patient who lies to the doctor.

فلا تنصبنَّ الحربَ لي بملامتي

فلا تنصبنَّ الحربَ لي بملامتي

وأنت سلاحي في حروب النوائبِ

وأنت سلاحي في حروب النوائبِ

Do not wage war upon me by blaming me,

Or vanishing in rapids - what absurdity!

So do not set up a war against me with your blame,

When you are my weapon in wars against calamities.

By my life, if I'm arraigned for accepting gifts,

For you are my weapon in the wars of misfortune.

وأجدى من التعنيف حسنُ معونةٍ

وأجدى من التعنيف حسنُ معونةٍ

برأيٍ ولينٍ من خطابِ المخاطبِ

برأيٍ ولينٍ من خطابِ المخاطبِ

More useful than harsh reproach is good assistance,

Surely you have judged with reckoning unjust!

More useful than rebuke is good assistance

With counsel and gentleness in the speaker's address.

I know your sympathy presumes you now

With an opinion and gentleness in the speech of the speaker.

وفي النصح خيرٌ من نصيحٍ مُوادِعٍ

وفي النصح خيرٌ من نصيحٍ مُوادِعٍ

ولا خيرَ فيهِ من نصيحٍ مُواثبِ

ولا خيرَ فيهِ من نصيحٍ مُواثبِ

There is good in advice from a peaceable adviser,

My judge and writer, rising o'er all else.

In advice, there is more good from a gentle counselor,

But none in it from an adviser who attacks.

Spare me your writer's sentence! It is still

And no good in it from a counselor who attacks.

ومثليَ محتاجٌ إلى ذي سماحةٍ

ومثليَ محتاجٌ إلى ذي سماحةٍ

كريمِ السجايا أريحيِّ الضرائبِ

كريمِ السجايا أريحيِّ الضرائبِ

One like me needs a generous man,

The verse's foe, with nothing held in common.

Someone like me is in need of a man of tolerance,

Noble in character, openhanded in disposition.

Else would the wisest sages not proclaim

Noble in character, generous in nature,

يلينُ على أهلِ التسحُّب مَسُّهُ

يلينُ على أهلِ التسحُّب مَسُّهُ

ويقضي لهم عند اقتراح الرغائبِ

ويقضي لهم عند اقتراح الرغائبِ

His touch is gentle toward those who make free with him,

Highest ranked, Ghassan's potent king of lore.

Whose touch is soft upon those who drag their feet,

And he grants their wishes when they propose them.

Certainly, more blessings have been heaped

And who fulfills their needs when they propose desires.

له نائلٌ ما زال طالبَ طالبٍ

له نائلٌ ما زال طالبَ طالبٍ

ومرتادَ مرتادٍ وخاطبَ خاطبِ

ومرتادَ مرتادٍ وخاطبَ خاطبِ

His bounty has always sought out the seeker,

By Amr's father, never causing harm.

He has a bounty that remains the seeker of the seeker,

Searched out the searcher, and wooed the petitioner.

Nothing hurts more than severance; it strikes

The pursuer of the pursuer, and the suitor of the suitor.

ألا ماجدُ الأخلاقِ حُرٌّ فَعالُهُ

ألا ماجدُ الأخلاقِ حُرٌّ فَعالُهُ

تُباري عطاياهُ عطايا السحائبِ

تُباري عطاياهُ عطايا السحائبِ

A man of glorious character, noble in his deeds,

Between loved ones a lashing with two whips.

Verily, he is glorious in morals, free in his deeds;

Whose gifts rival the gifts of clouds,

Due to severance his prudent words proclaimed,

His gifts compete with the gifts of the rain clouds.

كمثل أبي العباس إنَّ نوالَهُ

كمثل أبي العباس إنَّ نوالَهُ

نوال الحيا يسعى إلى كلِّ طالبِ

نوال الحيا يسعى إلى كلِّ طالبِ

Like Abu al-Abbas: his bounty

Gently chiding, O Ameemeh, unrequited lover.

Like Abu al-Abbas: indeed, his generosity

Is rain's bounty, seeking every petitioner.

You refused customary grace to pardon

Is the generosity of rain that runs to every seeker.

يُسيِّر نحوي عُرْفَهُ فيزورني

يُسيِّر نحوي عُرْفَهُ فيزورني

هنيئاً ولم أركبْ صعابَ المراكبِ

هنيئاً ولم أركبْ صعابَ المراكبِ

He sends his kindness toward me, and it visits me

And dismiss defects, a filtering required.

He sends his kindness towards me, so it visits me

Pleasantly, without my boarding difficult conveyances.

Nay, glory spurns all but your noble self,

Enjoyably, without my having to ride difficult mounts.

يَسير إلى مُمتاحه فيجودُهُ

يَسير إلى مُمتاحه فيجودُهُ

ويكفي أخا الإمحال زَمَّ الركائبِ

ويكفي أخا الإمحال زَمَّ الركائبِ

It travels to its seeker and showers him generously,

Raising you above the cited and the judge.

He travels to the one seeking him, showering him with bounty,

Sparing the impoverished man the bridling of mounts.

Have patience - 'tis expected you sustain

Saving the brother of famine from bridling the camels.

ومن يكُ مثلاً للحيا في عُلُوِّهِ

ومن يكُ مثلاً للحيا في عُلُوِّهِ

يكنْ مثلَهُ في جودهِ بالمواهبِ

يكنْ مثلَهُ في جودهِ بالمواهبِ

Whoever resembles rain in his loftiness

The full weight - though the stalwarts find it taxing.

Whoever is a likeness of the rain in its height

Should resemble it in his generous gifts.

No wonder men disdain the weary striving

Will be like it in his generosity with gifts.

وإنَّ نِفاري منه وهو يُريغني

وإنَّ نِفاري منه وهو يُريغني

لَشيءٌ لرأي فيه غيرُ مناسبِ

لَشيءٌ لرأي فيه غيرُ مناسبِ

My shying away from him while he seeks me

Of one who toys in comfort and blithe dalliance.

Indeed, my shying away from him while he seeks me

Is surely inconsistent with sound judgment concerning him.

For one who leads must prove himself unmatched

Is a thing that does not suit my opinion of him.

وإن قعودي عنهُ خيفةَ نكبةٍ

وإن قعودي عنهُ خيفةَ نكبةٍ

لَلؤمُ مَهَزٍّ وانثناءُ مَضاربِ

لَلؤمُ مَهَزٍّ وانثناءُ مَضاربِ

My staying away from him through fear of calamity

In aiding lowliest ranks in time of sport and play.

And my sitting back from him for fear of disaster

Is surely a fault in the spear-shaft, a buckling of blades.

He who ascends the stairs of glory still,

Is but the stiffness of a sword hilt and the bending of blades.

أُقرُّ على نفسي بعيبي لأنني

أُقرُّ على نفسي بعيبي لأنني

أرى الصدقَ يمحو بَيّنات المعايبِ

أرى الصدقَ يمحو بَيّنات المعايبِ

I acknowledge my fault against myself, because

Attains the utmost rungs o'er pedestrian heads.

I admit against myself my own fault, for I

I see honesty effacing evident defects.

You see me labor using all my wits

See that truth erases the clear signs of defects.

لَؤُمْتُ لَعمر اللَّه فيما أَتيتُهُ

لَؤُمْتُ لَعمر اللَّه فيما أَتيتُهُ

وإن كنتُ من قومٍ كرام المناصِبِ

وإن كنتُ من قومٍ كرام المناصِبِ

By God's life, I acted basely in what I did,

To shine your name in verse and avoid trouble.

I have been ignoble, by God, in what I have done,

Though I come from people of noble lineage.

I've granted you poetic gifts, as though

Even if I am from a people of noble positions.

لهم حِلْمُ إنسٍ في عَرامة جِنّةٍ

لهم حِلْمُ إنسٍ في عَرامة جِنّةٍ

وبأسُ أُسودٍ في دهاء ثعالبِ

وبأسُ أُسودٍ في دهاء ثعالبِ

They have human forbearance amid the wildness of jinn,

Each phrase were a fair maiden's neck embrace.

They have the forbearance of humans in the fierceness of jinn,

And lions' courage amid the cunning of foxes.

Refinement manifest, each line inlaid

And the courage of lions in the cunning of foxes.

يصولون بالأيدي إذا الحربُ أَعملتْ

يصولون بالأيدي إذا الحربُ أَعملتْ

سيوفَ سُريجٍ بعد أرماح زاعبِ

سيوفَ سُريجٍ بعد أرماح زاعبِ

They strike with their hands when war sets to work

With pearl, or cleavages of shapely waists.

They attack with hands when war puts to work

Surayj's swords after Za'ib's spears.

If you allow, for you they are most fit,

The swords of Surayj after the spears of Za'ab.

ولا بد من أن يَلؤُم المرءُ نازعاً

ولا بد من أن يَلؤُم المرءُ نازعاً

إلى الحَمَأ المسنونِ ضربة لازبِ

إلى الحَمَأ المسنونِ ضربة لازبِ

A man must sometimes prove base, reverting

Else I'll abstain, untroubled and unleashing.

Inevitably, a man must act ignobly, reverting

To altered black mud—an inescapable stroke.

Should any ask about you in reproach,

To the putrid black mud from which man was molded.

فقل لأبي العباس لُقِّيتَ وجهَهُ

فقل لأبي العباس لُقِّيتَ وجهَهُ

وحَسْبُك مني تلك دعوةَ صاحبِ

وحَسْبُك مني تلك دعوةَ صاحبِ

Say to Abu al-Abbas—may you meet his face,

I will confess I was ungrateful, blameworthy;

So say to Abu al-Abbas, may you meet his face,

And let that friend's blessing from me suffice you—

Say you invited me to bask in plenty,

And let this suffice as a call from a companion:

أمَا حقُّ حامي عِرض مثلك أن يُرى

أمَا حقُّ حامي عِرض مثلك أن يُرى

له الرفدُ والترفيهُ أَوْجَبَ واجبِ

له الرفدُ والترفيهُ أَوْجَبَ واجبِ

Is not the defender of the honor of one like you entitled

And you withheld it not, you showered me instead.

Is it not the right of a protector of honor like you to see

To have support and ease deemed the foremost duty owed him?

No barriers or veils obscured your gifts,

That support and easing of burdens are the most obligatory of duties?

أَمِنْ بعدِ ما لم تَرْعَ للمالِ حرمةً

أَمِنْ بعدِ ما لم تَرْعَ للمالِ حرمةً

وأسلمتَهُ للجود غيرَ مُجاذبِ

وأسلمتَهُ للجود غيرَ مُجاذبِ

After you spared money no sanctity,

But turning to my craft, I went away.

Is it that after you respected no sanctity of wealth,

And surrendered it to generosity without resisting,

So rightly you bestowed, I was unjust,

And surrendered it to generosity without contention,

فأعطيتَ ذا سلمٍ وحربٍ وَوُصلةٍ

فأعطيتَ ذا سلمٍ وحربٍ وَوُصلةٍ

وذنبٍ عطايا أدركتْ كلَّ هاربِ

وذنبٍ عطايا أدركتْ كلَّ هاربِ

Giving those at peace and war, those bound to you

Still fixed upon the path of glory's light.

And gave to those of peace, war, connection,

And those guilty, gifts that overtook every fugitive,

How miserable if my robe's hem trails

And sin, gifts that overtook every fleeing man,

ولم تُشخِصِ العافين لكنْ أتتهُمُ

ولم تُشخِصِ العافين لكنْ أتتهُمُ

لُهاك جَليباتٍ لأكرمِ جالبِ

لُهاك جَليباتٍ لأكرمِ جالبِ

Without making petitioners travel, but instead there came to them

In a misguidance charged to me, the faithless!

And you did not make the seekers travel, but rather your gifts

Your gifts, borne by the noblest bringer,

You are the noble soul whose nature marks

Came to them, brought by the most generous bringer,

عليماً بأنّ الظَّعْنَ فيه مشقّةٌ

عليماً بأنّ الظَّعْنَ فيه مشقّةٌ

وأنّ أَمرَّ الربح ربحُ الجلائبِ

وأنّ أَمرَّ الربح ربحُ الجلائبِ

Knowing that departure entails hardship,

True freemen, by no grasping talons marred.

Knowing that in travel lies hardship,

And that the bitterest profit is profit from things brought home,

Not one whose words betray a robbed man's darkness

And that the bitterest profit is the profit of imported goods,

تُكلّفني هولَ السِّفارِ وغولَهُ

تُكلّفني هولَ السِّفارِ وغولَهُ

رفيقَ شتاءٍ مُقْفعِلَّ الرواجبِ

رفيقَ شتاءٍ مُقْفعِلَّ الرواجبِ

Would you burden me with travel's terror and destruction,

And the tyranny of one who steals by force.

You task me with the terror of travel and its ogres,

With winter as my companion, my finger-joints shriveled?

Impugning honor of worthy men, though innocent,

A companion of winter with frozen knuckles?

ولاسيّما حين ارتدى الماءُ كِبْرَهُ

ولاسيّما حين ارتدى الماءُ كِبْرَهُ

وشاغَب أنفاسَ الصَّبا والجنائبِ

وشاغَب أنفاسَ الصَّبا والجنائبِ

Especially when water has donned its pride

Transgressing against repute like slavering dogs.

Especially when the water has donned its pride,

And quarrels with the breaths of east and south winds,

Only to then decry all people in verse, penned as

And clashed with the breaths of the east and south winds,

وهرَّتْ على مُستطرِقي البَرَّ قَرَّةٌ

وهرَّتْ على مُستطرِقي البَرَّ قَرَّةٌ

يَمسُّ أذاها دونَ لوثِ العصائبِ

يَمسُّ أذاها دونَ لوثِ العصائبِ

And cold snarls at those traversing land,

The plaint of one despoiled, a bandit's accusation.

And a biting cold growls at those traversing the land,

Its harm reaching beneath the winding folds of turbans.

My fate be not arraigned for accepting gifts,

Its harm touching them despite the wrapping of turbans.

كأن تمامَ الودِّ والمدح كلَّهُ

كأن تمامَ الودِّ والمدح كلَّهُ

هُوِيُّ الفتى في البحر أو في السَّباسبِ

هُوِيُّ الفتى في البحر أو في السَّباسبِ

As though friendship's perfection, and all praise,

When I proved craven - courage was not my making.

As if the perfection of affection and all praise

Were a young man's plunging into sea or wastes.

Demand of stalwarts daring for the fray,

Is for a young man to fall into the sea or the wastelands!

لعمري لئن حاسَبْتني في مثوبتي

لعمري لئن حاسَبْتني في مثوبتي

بخفضي لقد أجريتَ عادةَ حاسبِ

بخفضي لقد أجريتَ عادةَ حاسبِ

By my life, if you reckon my reward

Those titled warriors, donning armor's weight.

By my life, if you account for my ease in my reward,

According to my ease, you have followed an accountant's custom.

I have not walked the field, but lofty tents

You would be following the custom of a reckoning clerk.

حَنانَيْك قد أيقنتُ أنك كاتبٌ

حَنانَيْك قد أيقنتُ أنك كاتبٌ

له رتبةٌ تعلو به كلَّ كاتبِ

له رتبةٌ تعلو به كلَّ كاتبِ

Have mercy: I am certain you are a secretary

Dot its span, my spirit failed at heralds' martial call.

Have mercy! I have become certain that you are a scribe

Whose rank raises him above every secretary.

As for a man of wisdom and eloquence,

Possessing a rank that elevates him above every scribe.

فدعني من حكمِ الكتابة إنهُ

فدعني من حكمِ الكتابة إنهُ

عدوٌ لحكم الشعر غيرُ مقارِبِ

عدوٌ لحكم الشعر غيرُ مقارِبِ

Spare me the judgment of secretarial practice: it

Demand he guide aright when fixed with questions.

So spare me the logic of bookkeeping, for it is

Is hostile to poetry's judgment, nowhere near it.

Confirm me, elevate me, magnify my reward,

An enemy to the judgment of poetry, nowhere near it.

وإِلّا فلَم يستعملِ العدلَ جاعلٌ

وإِلّا فلَم يستعملِ العدلَ جاعلٌ

أَجَدَّ مُجدٍّ قِرْنَ أَلعبِ لاعبِ

أَجَدَّ مُجدٍّ قِرْنَ أَلعبِ لاعبِ

Otherwise, no one has acted justly who makes

Continue steadfast in your kindly graces.

Otherwise, no maker of justice has utilized

The most earnest worker the peer of the most playful player.

Let your munificence, preserved intact,

The most serious earnestness as a peer to the most playful player.

أيعزُبُ عنك الرأيُ في أن تُثيبني

أيعزُبُ عنك الرأيُ في أن تُثيبني

مقيماً مصوناً عن عناء المطالبِ

مقيماً مصوناً عن عناء المطالبِ

Does the idea escape you of rewarding me

Reach me without the flaws the critic cites.

Does the opinion escape you to reward me

While I remain sheltered from the hardship of seeking?

And so no gossips say he recompensed

While I am resident, protected from the suffering of demands?

فتُلفى وأُلفَى بين صافي صنيعةٍ

فتُلفى وأُلفَى بين صافي صنيعةٍ

وصافي ثناءٍ لم يُشَبْ بالمعاتِبِ

وصافي ثناءٍ لم يُشَبْ بالمعاتِبِ

Then you and I would stand between unclouded kindness

Then punished him, their loose words sharply stabbing.

So you are found, and I am found, between pure beneficence

And unclouded praise, unmixed with reproaches.

Your noble ways require you overlook

And pure praise, untainted by reproaches.

وتخرج من أحكام قومٍ تشدّدوا

وتخرج من أحكام قومٍ تشدّدوا

فقد جعلوا آلاءهم كالمصائبِ

فقد جعلوا آلاءهم كالمصائبِ

You would depart from the rulings of men who imposed hardship,

Transgressions - be your bounty free in full.

And you exit from the judgments of a people who were harsh,

Making their blessings resemble calamities.

Your gifts give hope and lavish life again,

For they made their favors feel like calamities.

أيذهبُ هذا عنك يا ابن محمدٍ

أيذهبُ هذا عنك يا ابن محمدٍ

وأنت مَعاذٌ في الأمور الحوازبِ

وأنت مَعاذٌ في الأمور الحوازبِ

Does this escape you, son of Muhammad,

Vanquish the bitterest of calamities.

Does this escape you, O son of Muhammad,

When you are a refuge in pressing affairs?

They outweigh mere wealth; hopes of your petitioners,

When you are a refuge in difficult matters?

لك الرأي والجودُ اللذان كلاهما

لك الرأي والجودُ اللذان كلاهما

زعيمٌ بكشف المطبِقات الكواربِ

زعيمٌ بكشف المطبِقات الكواربِ

You possess judgment and generosity, each of which

Lavishing on suspect ambitions of the crowd.

You possess judgment and generosity, both of which

Guarantees the lifting of overwhelming distresses.

I wished your bounty's measure be no less,

Are guarantors for dispelling crushing distress.

وما زلت ذا ضوء نوءٍ لمجدبٍ

وما زلت ذا ضوء نوءٍ لمجدبٍ

وحيرانَ حتى قيل بعضُ الكواكبِ

وحيرانَ حتى قيل بعضُ الكواكبِ

You have always possessed a rain-star's light for the drought-stricken

That you in cheerful mood be undiminished.

You remain a light of a star for the drought-stricken,

And the bewildered, until you were called one of the stars.

Lest wagging tongues say you rewarded, then,

And for the bewildered, until it is said you are one of the planets.

تغيث وتَهدي عند جدبٍ وحيرةٍ

تغيث وتَهدي عند جدبٍ وحيرةٍ

بمحتفل ثَرٍّ وأزهر ثاقِبِ

بمحتفل ثَرٍّ وأزهر ثاقِبِ

You bring relief and guidance in drought and bewilderment,

Withheld your gifts - of all vile deeds the worst.

You aid and guide during drought and confusion,

With abundant pouring rain and brilliant piercing light.

Your noble ways require I keep far from

With a flowing assembly and a piercing brightness.

وأحسُن عرفٍ موقعاً ما تنالُهُ

وأحسُن عرفٍ موقعاً ما تنالُهُ

يدي وغُرابي بالنوى غيرُ ناعبِ

يدي وغُرابي بالنوى غيرُ ناعبِ

The kindness best placed is what

Such gross ingratitude - do give your favors.

The best favor in its placement is that which my hand

My hand receives while my raven does not croak of separation.

Increase your bounty, O pillar of renown,

Attains while my crow does not croak of separation.

أراك متى ثَوَّبتني في رفاهةٍ

أراك متى ثَوَّبتني في رفاهةٍ

زففتَ إليَّ المُلْكَ بين الكتائبِ

زففتَ إليَّ المُلْكَ بين الكتائبِ

Whenever you reward me in comfort, I see you

Cement our pact with giving free and open.

I see that when you reward me in comfort,

Bringing kingship to me in procession among armies.

God's pleasure crowns those noble attributes,

You have wedded me to the kingdom amidst the battalions.

وأنت متى ثوَّبتني في مشقّةٍ

وأنت متى ثوَّبتني في مشقّةٍ

رأيتك في شخصِ المُثيب المعاقِبِ

رأيتك في شخصِ المُثيب المعاقِبِ

Whenever you reward me through hardship,

Wealth and delight abounding - joy to them!

But when you reward me in hardship,

I see in you a punisher in a rewarder's form.

Were I emboldened by your helping hand

I see you in the form of a rewarding punisher.

ولو لم يكن في العرف صافٍ مهنّأٌ

ولو لم يكن في العرف صافٍ مهنّأٌ

وذو كَدَرٍ والعرفُ شتَّى المَشاربِ

وذو كَدَرٍ والعرفُ شتَّى المَشاربِ

Were there not kindness clear and pleasant,

To face the strangest woes and darkness lifted,

If there were not in favors the pure and enjoyable,

And kindness troubled—for kindness has various drinking places—

I would praise your timely rescue of one lost,

And the turbid—for favors have diverse drinking places—

إذاً لم يقل أعلى النوابغِ رتبةً

إذاً لم يقل أعلى النوابغِ رتبةً

لمِقوَلِ غَسّانِ الملوكِ الأَشايبِ

لمِقوَلِ غَسّانِ الملوكِ الأَشايبِ

Then the highest-ranking of the Nabighas would not have said

Like lightning's smile, friendly once distant and dim.

Then the highest of the geniuses in rank would not have said

To the sovereign of Ghassan's kings of mingled stock:

In appealing to your noble ways lie traces

To the ruler of Ghassan, the kings of mixed tribes:

عليَّ لعمروٍ نعمةٌ بعدَ نعمةٍ

عليَّ لعمروٍ نعمةٌ بعدَ نعمةٍ

لوالِده ليستْ بذات عقاربِ

لوالِده ليستْ بذات عقاربِ

“I owe Amr a favor, after a favor

Of shining blades, gleaming wells, and flames enfolded.

"I owe to Amr a favor after favor,

From his father, one containing no scorpions.”

I've clothed myself in brilliant verse, yet fear no assault,

To his father, which are not possessed of scorpions."

وما عقربٌ أدهَى من البين إنه

وما عقربٌ أدهَى من البين إنه

له لَسْعةٌ بين الحشا والترائبِ

له لَسْعةٌ بين الحشا والترائبِ

No scorpion is more deadly than separation:

Too coarse to feel the touch of piercing shafts.

And no scorpion is more cunning than separation, for it

It has a sting between the innards and the breastbones.

No wonder generosity attends me

Has a sting between the entrails and the ribs.

ومن أجل ما راعى من البين قوله

ومن أجل ما راعى من البين قوله

كليني لهمٍّ يا أميمةَ ناصبِ

كليني لهمٍّ يا أميمةَ ناصبِ

Because he took account of separation, he said:

Though absent, for I sing your praise in place and time.

And because of what he feared of separation, he said:

“Leave me, Umaymah, to an exhausting sorrow.”

The reins I hold are not a ship's, and my due right

"Leave me to a grief, O Umayma, that is exhausting."

أبيتَ سوى تكلِيفك العرفَ مُعْفِياً

أبيتَ سوى تكلِيفك العرفَ مُعْفِياً

به صافياً من مؤذيات الشوائبِ

به صافياً من مؤذيات الشوائبِ

You accept only being charged with bounty, lavishing

Not what the sailor claims amidst the squalls.

You refused everything but burdening yourself with the favor,

It pure and free of harmful impurities.

Yet people are alert to worth, as eagles

Exempting it, pure from painful impurities.

بل المجدُ يأبي غيرَ سَوْمِك نفسَهُ

بل المجدُ يأبي غيرَ سَوْمِك نفسَهُ

ورفعِك عن طود المُنيل المحاسبِ

ورفعِك عن طود المُنيل المحاسبِ

Rather, glory accepts only that you demand it itself,

Circling their prey, ever ready to defend.

Nay, glory refuses anything but your offering of yourself,

And rise above the mountain-high giver who keeps accounts.

Saving those who stumble in misfortune's depths,

And your rising above the mountain of the calculating giver.

فصبراً على تحميلك الثِّقلَ كلَّهُ

فصبراً على تحميلك الثِّقلَ كلَّهُ

وإن عزَّ تحميلُ القرومِ المَصاعبِ

وإن عزَّ تحميلُ القرومِ المَصاعبِ

Patiently bear my loading the entire burden upon you,

Ensnared in grief and the untangling of life's knots.

So patience upon your bearing of the entire burden,

Though loading difficult stallions may be hard.

To God I make my plaint of gloom unending,

Even if the loading of difficulties is hard upon the strong camels.

ولا يعجبنَّ الناسُ من سعي متعَبٍ

ولا يعجبنَّ الناسُ من سعي متعَبٍ

مُشيحٍ لجدوى مستريح مُداعبِ

مُشيحٍ لجدوى مستريح مُداعبِ

Let people not marvel at a weary man's striving,

No dawn relieves its shroud or lifts its veil.

Let people not wonder at the striving of a weary man,

Hastening to benefit a resting, playful man.

With bitter brine stuck in my throat beyond relief,

Zealous for the gift of one who is resting and joking.

فمن ساد قوماً أوجب الطولُ أن يُرى

فمن ساد قوماً أوجب الطولُ أن يُرى

مُجِدّاً لأدناهُمْ وهم في الملاعبِ

مُجِدّاً لأدناهُمْ وهم في الملاعبِ

Whoever leads a people, his eminence requires that he be seen

Neither palatable nor easy to spit out.

For whoever leads a people, his eminence requires that he be seen

Working earnestly for their humblest while they are at play.

Striving for the least of them, while they are at play.

ومن لم يزل في مَصْعَدِ المجد راقياً

ومن لم يزل في مَصْعَدِ المجد راقياً

صعابَ المَراقي نال عُليا المراتبِ

صعابَ المَراقي نال عُليا المراتبِ

Whoever keeps climbing glory's ascent,

And whoever ceases not to ascend in the ascent of glory,

Its difficult climbs, attains the highest ranks.

Climbing difficult steps, attains the highest ranks.

ألم ترني أتعبتُ فكري مُحكِّكاً

ألم ترني أتعبتُ فكري مُحكِّكاً

لك الشعرَ كي لا أُبتلى بالمتاعبِ

لك الشعرَ كي لا أُبتلى بالمتاعبِ

Have you not seen me wearying my thought, polishing

Do you not see me exhausting my thoughts, refining

Poetry for you so that I may not suffer hardships?

The poetry for you, so that I am not tested with hardships?

نَحلتُك حَلْياً من مديحٍ كأنه

نَحلتُك حَلْياً من مديحٍ كأنه

هَوى كلِّ صبٍّ من عِناق الحبائبِ

هَوى كلِّ صبٍّ من عِناق الحبائبِ

I bestowed on you an ornament of praise, like

I have gifted you an ornament of praise, as if it were

Every passionate lover's desire for the embrace of beloveds:

The passion of every lover from the embrace of beloveds.

أنيقاً حقيقاً أن تكون حِقاقُهُ

أنيقاً حقيقاً أن تكون حِقاقُهُ

من الدرّ لا بل من ثُدِيِّ الكواعبِ

من الدرّ لا بل من ثُدِيِّ الكواعبِ

Elegant, deserving that its caskets be

Elegant, worthy that its small boxes be

Of pearls—no, rather, the breasts of budding maidens.

Of pearls—no, rather from the breasts of young maidens.

وأنت له أهلٌ فإن تجْزني به

وأنت له أهلٌ فإن تجْزني به

أزِدْك وإن تُمْسِكْ أقفْ غيرَ عاتِب

أزِدْك وإن تُمْسِكْ أقفْ غيرَ عاتِب

You deserve it; if you reward me for it,

You are worthy of it; so if you reward me for it,

I will give you more; if you withhold, I will stop without reproach.

I will increase you; and if you withhold, I will stop without blaming.

فإن سَألتْنِي عنك يوماً عصابةٌ

فإن سَألتْنِي عنك يوماً عصابةٌ

شهدتُ على نفسي بسوء المناقبِ

شهدتُ على نفسي بسوء المناقبِ

If some company asks me about you one day,

For if a group asks me about you one day,

I will testify against myself to poor qualities.

I will testify against myself with bad traits.

وقلت دعاني للندى فأتيتُهُ

وقلت دعاني للندى فأتيتُهُ

فأمسكَهُ بل بثَّهُ في المناهبِ

فأمسكَهُ بل بثَّهُ في المناهبِ

I will say: he invited me to generosity, and I came;

And I will say: "He invited me to generosity, so I came to him,

He withheld it—no, rather, scattered it for the taking.

But he withheld it—nay, he spread it in the plunder."

وما احتجزتْ مني لُهاهُ بحاجزٍ

وما احتجزتْ مني لُهاهُ بحاجزٍ

ولا احتجبتْ عني هناك بحاجبِ

ولا احتجبتْ عني هناك بحاجبِ

His gifts were not kept from me by any barrier,

His gifts were not held back from me by a barrier,

Nor concealed from me there by any gatekeeper.

Nor were they veiled from me there by a doorkeeper.

ولكن تَصدَّتْ وانحرفتُ لحرفتي

ولكن تَصدَّتْ وانحرفتُ لحرفتي

ففاءت ولم تظلِم إلى خيرِ واهبِ

ففاءت ولم تظلِم إلى خيرِ واهبِ

But they offered themselves, and I turned aside through my ill fortune,

But they appeared, and I turned away to my profession,

So they returned, without injustice, to the best of givers.

So they returned—without having wronged—to the best giver.

وما قلت إلا الحقَّ فيك ولم تزل

وما قلت إلا الحقَّ فيك ولم تزل

على منهجٍ من سُنّةِ المجد لاحبِ

على منهجٍ من سُنّةِ المجد لاحبِ

I have spoken only truth about you, and you have always remained

I have said nothing but the truth about you, and you remain

Upon a clear path of glory's tradition.

Upon a clear path from the sunnah of glory.

وإني لأشقَى الناس إن زُرَّ ملبسي

وإني لأشقَى الناس إن زُرَّ ملبسي

على إثمِ أفَّاكٍ وحسرةِ خائبِ

على إثمِ أفَّاكٍ وحسرةِ خائبِ

I would be the unhappiest of men if my garment were buttoned

I would indeed be the most wretched of people if my garment were buttoned

Over a liar's sin and a disappointed man's anguish.

Over the sin of a liar and the regret of a failure.

وكنتَ الفتى الحرَّ الذي فيه شيمةٌ

وكنتَ الفتى الحرَّ الذي فيه شيمةٌ

تَشيم عن الأحرار حدَّ المَخالبِ

تَشيم عن الأحرار حدَّ المَخالبِ

You are the noble young man whose character

You were the free youth in whom there is a character

Sheathes sharp claws away from noble men.

That sheathes the sharp claws away from the freeborn.

ولست كمن يعدو وفي كلماتِهِ

ولست كمن يعدو وفي كلماتِهِ

تظلُّمُ مغصوبٍ وعدوانُ غاصبِ

تظلُّمُ مغصوبٍ وعدوانُ غاصبِ

I am not like one who attacks, with words containing

You are not like one who attacks, while in his words

A dispossessed man's complaint and a usurper's aggression.

Is the complaint of the usurped and the aggression of the usurper.

يحاول معروفَ الرجالِ وإن أَبوْا

يحاول معروفَ الرجالِ وإن أَبوْا

تعدَّى على أعراضهم كالمُكالبِ

تعدَّى على أعراضهم كالمُكالبِ

He seeks men's kindness, and if they refuse,

He attempts the favor of men, and if they refuse,

Assails their honor like a snarling dog.

He transgresses against their honor like a rabid dog.

وأصبح يشكو الناسَ في الشعر جامعاً

وأصبح يشكو الناسَ في الشعر جامعاً

شكايَة مسلوبٍ وتسليطَ سالبِ

شكايَة مسلوبٍ وتسليطَ سالبِ

He complains of people in poetry, combining

He begins to complain of people in poetry, combining

The grievance of the robbed with a robber's tyranny.

The complaint of a victim and the domination of a thief.

فلا تَحرمنّي كي تُجِدَّ عجيبةً

فلا تَحرمنّي كي تُجِدَّ عجيبةً

لقومٍ فحسبُ الناس ماضي العجائبِ

لقومٍ فحسبُ الناس ماضي العجائبِ

Do not deprive me just to offer a new wonder

So do not deprive me, that you may renew a wonder

To people; past wonders are enough for them.

For a people, for the past wonders are sufficient for people.

ولا تنتقصْ من قدر حظّي إقامتي

ولا تنتقصْ من قدر حظّي إقامتي

سألتك بالداعين بين الأَخاشبِ

سألتك بالداعين بين الأَخاشبِ

Do not let my staying here diminish the measure of my share;

And do not diminish the value of my luck by my staying;

I beseech you by those praying between al-Akhashib.

I ask you by those praying between the mountains of Mecca.

وما اعتقلتني رغبةٌ عنك يَمَّمت

وما اعتقلتني رغبةٌ عنك يَمَّمت

سواك ولكن أيُّ رهبة راهبِ

سواك ولكن أيُّ رهبة راهبِ

No desire away from you detained me, turning toward

No desire away from you has detained me, such that I sought

Another, but a frightened man's profound fear.

Other than you; but rather, what a fear of a monk!

كأني أرى بالظعن طعنَ مُطاعِنٍ

كأني أرى بالظعن طعنَ مُطاعِنٍ

وبالضرب في الأقطار ضربَ مضاربِ

وبالضرب في الأقطار ضربَ مضاربِ

In departure I seem to see an assailant's thrust,

As if I see in travel the stabbing of a lancer,

And in traveling through lands, a combatant's blows.

And in striking through the lands, the striking of swords.

وليس جزائي أن أَخيب لأنني

وليس جزائي أن أَخيب لأنني

جَبُنْتُ ولم أُخْلَق عتادَ مُحارِبِ

جَبُنْتُ ولم أُخْلَق عتادَ مُحارِبِ

My recompense should not be disappointment because

My reward is not that I fail because I

I was cowardly and was not created a warrior's equipment.

Was cowardly and was not created with the gear of a warrior.

يُطَالبُ بالإقدام من عُدَّ مُحْرَباً

يُطَالبُ بالإقدام من عُدَّ مُحْرَباً

وسُمِّي مذ ناغى بقودِ المَقانبِ

وسُمِّي مذ ناغى بقودِ المَقانبِ

Boldness is demanded of one counted a seasoned warrior,

Boldness is demanded of one who is counted as a warrior,

Named from his first cooing for leading bands of horsemen.

And named so since he cooed, leading the squadrons.

ولم يمشِ قيدَ الشبرِ إلا وفوقه

ولم يمشِ قيدَ الشبرِ إلا وفوقه

عصائبُ طيرٍ تهتدي بعصائبِ

عصائبُ طيرٍ تهتدي بعصائبِ

He does not walk a handspan without overhead

Who has not walked the length of a span unless above him

Flocks of birds guided by bands of men.

Were flocks of birds guided by other flocks.

فأمَّا فتىً ذو حكمةٍ وبلاغةٍ

فأمَّا فتىً ذو حكمةٍ وبلاغةٍ

فطالبْهُ بالتسديد وسط المَخاطبِ

فطالبْهُ بالتسديد وسط المَخاطبِ

But as for a young man of wisdom and eloquence,

But as for a youth of wisdom and eloquence,

Demand accuracy from him amid exchanges of speech.

Demand of him correctness in the midst of speeches.

أَثبني ورَفِّهني وأَجزلْ مثوبتي

أَثبني ورَفِّهني وأَجزلْ مثوبتي

وثابرْ على إدرارِ بِرِّي وواظبِ

وثابرْ على إدرارِ بِرِّي وواظبِ

Reward me, give me ease, and make my reward abundant;

Reward me, grant me comfort, and make my recompense abundant,

Persevere in keeping kindness flowing to me, and continue.

And persist in flowing my charity, and persevere.

لتأتيني جدواك وهي سليمةٌ

لتأتيني جدواك وهي سليمةٌ

من العيب ما فيها اعتلالٌ لعائبِ

من العيب ما فيها اعتلالٌ لعائبِ

Let your assistance come to me free

So that your gift comes to me while it is safe

Of fault, containing no pretext for a critic.

From defect; there is no illness in it for a fault-finder.

أثقِّلُ إدلالي لتحملَ ثِقْلَهُ

أثقِّلُ إدلالي لتحملَ ثِقْلَهُ

بطوع المُراضي لا بكرهِ المغاضبِ

بطوع المُراضي لا بكرهِ المغاضبِ

I make my familiar demands weighty so you may bear their weight

I make heavy my imposition so that you bear its weight

With the willingness of one pleasing, not the reluctance of one angered.

With the obedience of a pacifier, not the hatred of an angry man.

وما طلبُ الرِّفْد الهَنيء ببدعةٍ

وما طلبُ الرِّفْد الهَنيء ببدعةٍ

ولا عجبُ المُسترفدِيهِ بعاجبِ

ولا عجبُ المُسترفدِيهِ بعاجبِ

Seeking pleasant assistance is no innovation,

Seeking a wholesome gift is not an innovation,

Nor is its seekers' wonder anything wonderful.

Nor is the wonder of one seeking it a marvel.

وذاك مَزيدٌ في معاليك كلُّهُ

وذاك مَزيدٌ في معاليك كلُّهُ

وفي صدقِ هاتيك القوافي السواربِ

وفي صدقِ هاتيك القوافي السواربِ

All this adds to your noble qualities,

That is an increase in your high qualities, all of it,

And to the truth of those flowing rhymes.

And in the truth of those wandering rhymes.

وما حَقُّ باغيك المزيدَ انتقاصُهُ

وما حَقُّ باغيك المزيدَ انتقاصُهُ

ولاسيما والمالُ جَمُّ الحلائبِ

ولاسيما والمالُ جَمُّ الحلائبِ

One who seeks increase from you does not deserve reduction,

It is not right to diminish the one who seeks increase from you,

Especially when wealth has plentiful milkings.

Especially when wealth has abundant milk-givers.

وأنت الذي يضحي وأدنى عطائِهِ

وأنت الذي يضحي وأدنى عطائِهِ

بلوغُ الأماني بل قضاءُ المآربِ

بلوغُ الأماني بل قضاءُ المآربِ

You are the one whose least gift, each day,

You are the one who enters the morning, and the least of his gifts

Is the attainment of wishes—indeed, the fulfillment of needs.

Is the attainment of wishes, nay, the fulfillment of needs.

وتوزَنُ بالأموال آمالُ وفدِهِ

وتوزَنُ بالأموال آمالُ وفدِهِ

وإرفادُ قومٍ بالظنون الكواذبِ

وإرفادُ قومٍ بالظنون الكواذبِ

Your delegation's hopes are weighed in actual wealth,

The hopes of his delegation are weighed against wealth,

While some people's assistance consists of false expectations.

While the support of others is with lying conjectures.

أقمتُ لكي تزدادَ نعماك نعمةً

أقمتُ لكي تزدادَ نعماك نعمةً

وتَغْنَى بوجهٍ ناضرٍ غيرِ شاحبِ

وتَغْنَى بوجهٍ ناضرٍ غيرِ شاحبِ

I stayed so your blessing might grow more blessed

I stayed behind so that your favors might increase in favor,

And flourish with a fresh, unpallid face.

And so you might be rich with a fresh face, not pale.

وكي لا يقولَ القائلون أثابَهُ

وكي لا يقولَ القائلون أثابَهُ

وعاقَبَهُ والقولُ جَمَّ المَشاعِبِ

وعاقَبَهُ والقولُ جَمَّ المَشاعِبِ

And so speakers would not say: he rewarded him

And so that the sayers might not say: "He rewarded him

And punished him—for speech has many branching paths.

And punished him," for speech has many branches.

وصَوْني عن التهجين عُرفَك موجِبٌ

وصَوْني عن التهجين عُرفَك موجِبٌ

مَزيدَك لي في الرفد يا ابن المَرازِبِ

مَزيدَك لي في الرفد يا ابن المَرازِبِ

My protecting your kindness from disparagement calls for

My preservation of your favor from ugliness necessitates

Your increasing my support, son of the marzbans.

Your increase to me in the gift, O son of the Marazib.

بوجهك أضحى كلُّ شيءٍ منوراً

بوجهك أضحى كلُّ شيءٍ منوراً

وأبرزَ وجهاً ضاحكاً غيرَ قاطبِ

وأبرزَ وجهاً ضاحكاً غيرَ قاطبِ

Through your face everything has become illuminated

By your face, everything has become illuminated,

And shown a laughing face, not a frowning one.

And has shown a laughing face, not frowning.

فلا تبتذلْهُ في المَغاضب ظالماً

فلا تبتذلْهُ في المَغاضب ظالماً

فلم تؤتَ وجهاً مثله للمغاضبِ

فلم تؤتَ وجهاً مثله للمغاضبِ

Do not wrongfully debase it in angry quarrels;

So do not degrade it in anger, acting unjustly,

You were not given such a face for quarrels.

For you were not given a face like it for anger.

نشرت على الدنيا شعاعاً أضاءها

نشرت على الدنيا شعاعاً أضاءها

وكانت ظلاماً مُدلهِمَّ الغياهبِ

وكانت ظلاماً مُدلهِمَّ الغياهبِ

You spread over the world a radiance that lit it,

You spread over the world a beam that lit it up,

When it had been darkness of deepest gloom.

When it was darkness with gloomy depths.

كأنك تلقاءَ الخليقةِ كلّها

كأنك تلقاءَ الخليقةِ كلّها

مشارقُ شمسٍ أشرقتْ لمغاربِ

مشارقُ شمسٍ أشرقتْ لمغاربِ

Before all creation you seem

As if you, facing all of creation,

The risings of a sun shining upon lands of sunset.

Are sunrises that have shone for sunsets.

لِيَهنِ فتىً أطراك أنْ نال سُؤْلَهُ

لِيَهنِ فتىً أطراك أنْ نال سُؤْلَهُ

لديك وأنْ لم يحتقِب وِزْرَ كاذبِ

لديك وأنْ لم يحتقِب وِزْرَ كاذبِ

May the young man who extolled you rejoice that he won his request

Let the youth who praised you be congratulated that he attained his request

From you, and did not shoulder a liar's burden.

From you, and did not carry the burden of a liar.

رضا اللّهِ في تلك الحقائب والغنى

رضا اللّهِ في تلك الحقائب والغنى

جميعاً ألا فوزاً لتلك الحقائبِ

جميعاً ألا فوزاً لتلك الحقائبِ

God's favor and wealth together are in those saddlebags;

The pleasure of God is in those bags, and wealth

What triumph for those saddlebags!

Together; oh, what a victory for those bags!

كأني أراني قائلاً إنْ أعانني

كأني أراني قائلاً إنْ أعانني

نداك على ريب الخطوب الروائبِ

نداك على ريب الخطوب الروائبِ

I seem to see myself saying, if

As if I see myself saying, if your dew aids me

Your bounty helps me against the trials of unsettling calamities:

Against the uncertainty of curdling misfortunes:

جُزيتَ العلا من مستغاثٍ أجابني

جُزيتَ العلا من مستغاثٍ أجابني

جوابَ ضَحوكِ البرقِ داني الهيادبِ

جوابَ ضَحوكِ البرقِ داني الهيادبِ

May you be rewarded with eminence, a rescuer who answered me

"You have been rewarded with high status by a succor-seeker; he answered me

Like smiling lightning with low-hanging rain-fringes.

With the answer of a laughing lightning bolt, low-hanging in fringes."

وفي مُستماحي العرفِ بارقُ خُلَّبٍ

وفي مُستماحي العرفِ بارقُ خُلَّبٍ

ولامعُ رقراقٍ ونارُ حُباحبِ

ولامعُ رقراقٍ ونارُ حُباحبِ

Among those asked for kindness are rainless flashes,

And in the one whose favor is sought, there is a deceiving lightning,

Shimmering mirage, and Hubahib's fire.

And a shimmering mirage, and the fire of a firefly.

تسحّبتُ في شعري ولان لجلدتي

تسحّبتُ في شعري ولان لجلدتي

ثراه فما استخشنتُ مسَّ المسَاحبِ

ثراه فما استخشنتُ مسَّ المسَاحبِ

I made bold in my poetry, and soft against my skin became

I dragged my train in my poetry, and its soil

Its moist soil; I found no roughness in the touch of trailing hems.

Softened my skin, so I did not find the touch of the dragging-places rough.

وليس عجيباً أن ينوبَ تكرُّمٌ

وليس عجيباً أن ينوبَ تكرُّمٌ

غذيتُ به عن آمِلٍ لك غائبِ

غذيتُ به عن آمِلٍ لك غائبِ

It is no wonder that generosity

It is not strange that a generosity I was fed with

On which I was nourished should represent an absent man hoping in you.

Should substitute for a hoper of yours who is absent.

أقمْهُ مُقامي ناطقاً بمدائحي

أقمْهُ مُقامي ناطقاً بمدائحي

لديك وقد صدّرتها بالمنَاسبِ

لديك وقد صدّرتها بالمنَاسبِ

Set it in my place, voicing my praises

Establish it in my place, speaking my praises

Before you; I have prefaced them with fitting themes.

Before you, when I have prefaced them with lineages.

ذماميَ تَرْعَى لا ذمامَ سفينة

ذماميَ تَرْعَى لا ذمامَ سفينة

وحَقِّيَ لا حقَّ القِلاصِ الذَّعالبِ

وحَقِّيَ لا حقَّ القِلاصِ الذَّعالبِ

It is my claim to protection you honor, not a ship's,

You watch over my protection, not the protection of a ship,

And my right, not that of swift young she-camels.

And my right, not the right of the swift camels.

وفي الناس أيقاظٌ لكل كريمةٍ

وفي الناس أيقاظٌ لكل كريمةٍ

كأنهمُ العِقبانُ فوقَ المَراقبِ

كأنهمُ العِقبانُ فوقَ المَراقبِ

Among people are men alert to every noble deed,

Among people are those awake to every noble deed,

Like eagles above lookout places.

As if they were eagles atop the watchtowers.

يُراعون أمثالي فيستنقذونهم

يُراعون أمثالي فيستنقذونهم

وهم في كروبٍ جمّةٍ وذَباذبِ

وهم في كروبٍ جمّةٍ وذَباذبِ

They watch over men like me and rescue them

They watch over the likes of me, so they rescue them

While they are amid many distresses and uncertainties.

While they are in immense distress and wavering.

إلى اللَّه أشكو غُمّةً لا صباحُها

إلى اللَّه أشكو غُمّةً لا صباحُها

يُنير ولا تنجاب عني بجائب

يُنير ولا تنجاب عني بجائب

To God I complain of a gloom whose morning does not

To God I complain of a grief whose morning does not

Shine, nor is it lifted from me by anyone who lifts.

Shine, nor does it clear away from me with any clearing,

نُشوبَ الشَّجا في الحلق لا هو سائغ

نُشوبَ الشَّجا في الحلق لا هو سائغ

ولا هو ملفوظ كذا كلُّ ناشِب

ولا هو ملفوظ كذا كلُّ ناشِب

Like a bone lodged in the throat, neither swallowed

Like a bone stuck in the throat, neither swallowed

Nor spat out: so it is with everything lodged.

Nor spit out; such is the nature of every stuck thing.